American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power competition in the Arctic. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he stated.

He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.